Greetings as we finalize our trip plans for our visit to the South Island in April, we have noticed that the various magazines, books, and web sites all show quite a variety of driving times. PureNZ.com and New Zealands AA club maps for example are different by more than an hour or so for most trips.<BR><BR>Just wondering which reference would be the most accurate for driving times in mid April<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR>Steve

I think that this driving distance table seems quite accurate to me:<BR><BR>http://www.newzealandvacations.co.nz/maps-sichart.asp<BR><BR>A rule of thumb is that it will take longer than you think to get somewhere, due to narrow and curvy roads. Given a choice between two referenced drive times, I'd choose the longer one.

I believe the difference is because the first website is allowing time for tourists to stop and admire the views etc along the way, sounds corny but true.<BR>The AA is for all drivers (many members)so the times are designed for any driver just wanting to get from A to B whether a tourist or not.

Greetings Alf and KathyNZ<BR><BR>Thank you for the response to our posting. <BR>We will be checking out the site that Alf recommended.<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR>Steve

I just returned from NZ on 3/15/03 and we used the Hertz map/time guide that came with the rental car. They allowed for a 10 min break for each hour traveled and they were right on the money. I'm guessing the other rental companies are the same. The west coast of the South Island is very time consuming.